Keeping Christmas to Ourselves: A Digital Absence

It’s Boxing Day night and I’m sat here with my glass of Baileys after laying with Boo while she fell asleep and I can honestly say this Christmas has been one of the loveliest and most peaceful and I think I know why… a 48 hour social media hiatus.

48 hours may not seem like a lot to many people, but when your main job is blogging and being a digital influencer it’s kind of a big deal; I must admit I hadn’t planned it – in fact I was looking forward to sharing snaps from Christmas morning of Boo opening her presents and of our Christmas lunch at my Mums with family as I have done for many years previously, way before I began blogging.

But as I played Father Christmas on Christmas Eve and artfully demolished the mince pie and milk I decided not to share a snap on Facebook. I don’t really know why I just had the urge to keep Christmas all to ourselves this year; I wanted to be fully present, not missing a single moment. I embrace social media for all it’s merits and you will often find me shouting the benefits of an online presence and sharing ordinary moments of our life is a great snapshot into the world of Mummy and Boo. So why was Christmas 2015 different?

2015 has been a rollercoaster of a year, a true adventure for us and apart from the broken arm we’ve had an absolute blast; it’s been a year that has seen so many changes for Boo seeing her transform from an inquisitive preschooler into a confident little lady and I’ve shared our journey; the good, the hilarious and the sometimes ouch (think the arm) so why am I so reluctant to share our Christmas?

Yesterday was full of present opening, turkey, laughter, lovings, competitive games of Monopoly and not a single hashtag or checking to see the reach of a post of number of retweets and it was glorious… I did think about taking one ‘perfect’ shot to encapsulate the Corriette Christmas but I really didn’t want to style a shot when the only thing I should be styling was Queen Elsa’s hair! I took more photos yesterday and today than any other Christmas – not one is picture perfect, they’re blurry, too light, too dark but they capture our Christmas and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It’s important that I point out this is no way me complaining or calling foul of social media’s intrusion; I rely on and sometimes orchestrate social media for the benefit of this blog and I am completely aware that I willingly offer an insiders view of family life – something that I am comfortable with and fully in control of. I am also aware that a fair few of you reading this will have clicked through from Facebook on the link I will inevitably share and the irony of this. Don’t worry I’m not about to quit social media for good, 48 hours has been enough.

The longer I resisted the ever increasing red notification pop up on Facebook (it’s currently at 117 as I write this – wish me luck getting through it) the easier it was to digitally switch off. 2016 is set to be our biggest and best – just you wait and see – but if Christmas has taught me anything it’s that a little bit of digital wilderness is good for the soul.